Massager



Dec. 29, 1942. w. G. Bl-:Tz 2,306,424;

MASSAGER Filed Nov'. lef 195e l 2 sheets-sheet 1 @Z4/mz Q5@ Dec.A 29,'1942.v w. G; am i MAssAeER Filed Novl les, 1958 2l Sheets-Sheet 2drivenmassaging device, but .more .in ,toza portable :power drivenmassaging;devcewith jiiexible fingers .individually :removable .and .irefplaceable .,on'the device, :and .with A:such '1 fingers themselvesconstructed andpositioned on 'thefdevvice ,so :that theoperation-thereof .will simulate Patented Dec. 29, 1942 .U NITED SMAssAGnR *WiliiamGr BetzgLa; -1orte,=Ind. y feppucaaonfmvember 16,1938,serial No.v 240,762

4L Claims.

Myxinventionrelates in general toa apower kparticular the mostbeneficial manualzmassage.

A lifting, kneadingaction on the skin is the Vmost .efficient andbeneficial massage, as. suchv an action .tends to stimulate'the'bloodand'reach 1 subcutaneous vtissues which otherwise are not exercised in'a mannerwhichv is vconducive tol a .healthy fskin. Fatty. tissuesflareyreached .in'this way and arey .broken vdown, r thus alleviating i anynecessity i for .a strenuous reducing diet in f order .to loseextraneous weight.

Eiorts have been madeto simulateth-isaction in Vthe `prior art massagingdevices. f-However,

many. of `the' devices '.have failed completely vto accomplish thisend.. and others :which: haverbeen fairlygsatisfa-ctory from: thestandpoint of operaz tion,;have been soA expensive; both inzoriginalicost fand :upkeepithat they have had` little'or novcommercial'success, and". have had Avery 'limited distribution.,'Furthermore, rmany of I the lcomplicated, expensive devices whichproviderelatively satisfactory massaging require expert care and. can beoperated successfully only by fa person skilled in the use of theparticular-device.

It is an "object `of my .invention to provide `an improved portable,.light-'weight compact vfand sturdy-massaging device.

Aiurtherobject. is. to provide aV portable massaging device'. whichmaybe operated equally-as .well bythoseaskilled in'theart o'fmassage/asby xa :person with relatively little knowledge thereof.

IA` further object of my invention is to providey a relativelyinexpensive massager `which can f be adapted to direct motor drive, 1orindirect drive through a flexible shaft.

Another object of myfinvention is to yprovide a simpley mechanismrequiring little or no servicing,

and :which has inexpensive massagingelements vwhich are readilyreplaceable when worn out.

One of the features of my inventionis'thejprovision of massage elementsand driving mechanism whereby a lifting, kneadingmotion'is'impartedto'the kskin to provide themost'beneficial treatment. Furthermore, ldue'to thepossibility of continuous treatment whichremains `uniform for anydesiredperiod, the use of my devicefactuallyprovides improved resultsgover that-possible with manual finger massage.

Other objects and features of my invention-.will .be apparent fromthefollowing detaileddescription ltaken 'with the :accompanying drawingsIvvherein:

' unit .embodying my invention, idriven by Ian ex- ..ternal motorgthrouglraflexible' shaft. y

.,:Fige`2isxabottomfviewthereofshowingparticu-,larlyithefmassagingfingers.

.;Eig-w3 isasectional viewfalong thelineyS-al-:of Fig..2:s1f1owingl themanner in-whichthemassagying members-cooperate with-each otherltoliftthe skin.

. Figui is 1an enlargedasectional View alongthe l linedf4 of-Fig.x2showing'v oneof the ,driven shafts and', massaging ngers carriedthereon.

Fig, 5 is aside view of 'a modification fot my invention with vthe sideor end fplate :thereof re- -moved.

.Fig-6 is-.abottomviewof a furtherA modi'cation of, myinvention.

'I' is` a: sectionalK viewalongtthe line `:Im-'Lof Fig-6i as to a`portionv of the device, andffshowing other r portions 1 in elevation`:andra `massaging,- element-:in section. y

Irr practicing; my: invention, I fprovide massag- 4,ingzapparatusincluding a portable: framefandia .plurality v ;ofmassaging elements ,fmovably s supfported thereon. :Each massagingelement ;in

cludes :arffrictionally Vretained :bulb-like ,ilexible 'ingerirhavingvan annular restricted mouthand. a flexible integralv cover extendingtherefrom to provide'a compressible end portionat each finger. Eachfinger .is frictionally retained upon a correspending projection havinga shoulder forfreceiving theannular mouth of thefinger behind the-same;for":reinovably retaining suchziinger. *.'The

f projection lis mounted on the driven portionof the massaging deviceand Ais of such la sheight, :or

length, so far as protruding into the nger is Iconcerned, that` the endof theiingerv can befreadily compressed iwheniin operation to providexarelatively' soft, yielding ifstructure which -willnot \in juretheyportion of thebodyfof the perso-n' being 40 .massaged, yetwillpkneadthe skin -to reach the Msubcutaneous tissues and give the maximumstimulation .to :the portion of the body :being imassaged. The fingersare retained on such` pro- .jectiongsothat theyv will withstand alltypes of massaging with the. device,iand yet, can'tbe .readily removedforreplacement purposes when'they becomezworn.

'.'Referringnow to the drawings, Fig. ishows a portable massagingfdevice embodying .my1inven tion,adapted,to be driven by an externalmotor through the vmedium of f' a demountable `flexible shaft. Thisdevice comprises a one-piece U- shaped'frame :I0 :havinga pair of -endportions l I and I2 with a; handle I3'rigidly securedto. the

s yoke of the' frameand carrying apair of rotatable: shafts- |'4v vandi6 therein. A .couplingfmernberv l1 Y(Fig. 2) is irigidly connected tothewshait f I :llL for :connection withra: corresponding coupler member.'on ','a exible shaft 1in; .accordance rwith :therusualrzpractica LIheyrotary; movement ofy the.

such fingers continuously move on said shaftsVv toward one another tolift the skin to be massaged intermediate the fingers, as shown in Fig.

3. The ngers are preferably provided of a rub` ber material although itis understood that the invention is not limited to this material if theyother characteristics required, as willl be apparent, areupresent.

'I'he shafts I4 and I5 are hexagonal in cross section, and 'thisconfiguration assists in the spacing of the fingers 2|' bothlongitudinally and angularly of the shafts so that a group ofthreefingers lies in an arcuate 'diagonal or substantially helical pathextending approxiniately180'J over the entire periphery of a shaft. Thismounting conguration is shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The shaftsthemselvesare spaced apart in the frame a distance such that there is aslight spacing intermediate the substantially cylindrioal path ofrotation of the outerV tip of all of the fingers on one shaft and acorresponding path for the tips of the fingers on the'other shaft. Thisprevents the possibility of jamming the tips of fingers on one shaftagainstthe tips of fingers on the other shaft, should theshafts becomeangularly displacedfronithe position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, forinstance, and also eliminates the possibility of undesirable pinching fof skin between the two sets of rollers. Furthervmore, with' the fingerspositioned in the arcuate diagonal line, and the two shafts I4andV I6angularly positioned with reference to one another so that the sets offingers on one shaft follow` corresponding sets of fingers in timing,there is a progressive lifting and kneading action resulting from theoperation of the device which represents the most desirable massagingaction.

The desirable massaging action obtained with the structure describedabove is assisted in pro-- viding the most beneficial massage by meansof the individual fingers 2| with yieldingrelatively soft tips whichdirectly engage the skin. Eachof the fingers 2| comprises a bulb-like,or hollowf shell-like member having an annular enlarged rim 22 at themouth thereof and extending outwardly through an integral wall 23narrower in width than the annular rim 22 to form a cornpressibleyielding tip at the outer end of each finger. The finger is mounted on aprojection or knob-like element 24 which may preferably be provided inmetal, and is rigidly secured on a shaft I4 or I6 by means of anintegral or connected threaded stud 28 fitting in a correspondinglythreaded aperture in the shaft. A' washer 2'I is provided intermediatethe shaft and knob as shown on Fig. 4, to seat the finger, close themouth thereof in cooperation with the knob, and limit the distance whichthe finger is inserted over such knob. Each knob 24 over the entiremassaging device has an enlarged head portion 28 and a restricted neckportion 29 providing a shoulder therebetween to receive the annular rim22 on a finger thereon. The resiliency of the annular rim 22 is such asto frictionally retain a finger on a knob 24 during a massagingoperation, yet make it possible to quite readily remove a worn fingerfrom a' knob by pulling more strenuously on the finger than' would berepresented by the pulling pressure on each finger in a massagingoperation. Likewise this resiliency is such that the annular rim 22 canbe forced over the rounded face of the head 23 of each knob to mount afinger on a knob.

The height of a knob 24 and length of the internal cavity of a finger 2|are such that a conj siderable portion of the internal cavity of eachfinger lies above the top of the head 28 of a knob so as to provide anample yielding mass at the end of each finger for accomplishing the bestmassaging action.

As is clear from Figs. 3 and 4 the knob 24 and consequently the fingers2| are provided in oppositely disposed pairs as A and B in Figs. 2 and3. Each pair in turn is angularly displaced'from each adjacent pair asis indicated by fingers C and D in Figs. 2 and 3. In other Words, thefirst pair of massage elements on each shaft lis angularly displaced andin a different phasev relationship than the adjacent pair. This samecondition applies to the other adjacent pairs of massage elements overboth of the' two'shafts.

In order to project heat directly onto the portion of the body beingmassaged 4with allof the `beneficial results of such heat, a heatingIcoil 3| is mounted and suitably insulated in a hood 32 supported atvthe' top of the frame Il'and intermediate the two endA portions II andI2. The current for the heating coil 3| may be provided through a line33 carried in the handle I3 of the massaging device and connected at oneend of the coil as shown in Fig. 2.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 in which aportable massaging' device is provided, including a motor 34 carrieddirectly on a' frame 36 for direct drive of the massaging elements. 'Aworm gear 34A is mounted on the motor shaft'and is in driving engagementwith worm gears 3'! and 31' mounted at corresponding ends of drivenshafts 31A and 31B, respectively. Mounted on the opposite ends ofshaftsv 31A and 31B are worm gears 38A and 38B, respectively, which areoperatively associated with gears '39A and 39B, respectively. Gears 39Aand 39B are mounted on rotatable shafts 4I and 42,`respectively. Withthe double Worm gear units 38A and' 39A, and 33B and 39B for the shafts4I and 42, it is possible to vary thespacing intermediate the shafts 4Iand 42 with a minimum of cost and troublefrom the standpoint ofmanufacture. The shafts 4I and 42'are provided in a hexagonalconguration identical with the shafts I4 and I6, in this respect, andthe fingers 2| are also provided identical with the fingers illustratedin detail in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and mounted on the shafts 4| and 42 in amanner identical with that illustrated and previously described. Themassaging device can be readily moved over the skin of a patient bymeans of a handle 43 secured to the motor 34.

A-further modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.In view ofthe possibility of pulling hair on a patients head as a resultof massaging the head with the structures of Figs. 1 and 5, due torotation of the shafts and fingers thereon toward one another, arotatable head 46 is provided in the structure of Figs. 6 and 7 which isdriven through a substantially reciprocating link 41 pivotally securedto a disc 48 at one end and to a disc 49 at the other end. The disc 49is rotated through 360 through a driving connection including a stubshaft 5| and a coupler portion 52 for connection with an external,flexible driving shaft in the same manner as described with reference tothe structure in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. As is apparent from both Figs.6 and 1, the disc 49 is smaller than the disc 48. The link 41 ispivotally secured adjacent the. periphery of each disc. The ratiobetween the diameters of the discs 49 and 48 is such that while the disc49 rotates completely through 360, the disc 43 rotates in vone directionthrough approximately 180 and then in the opposite direction through thesame circular path. As a result of this motion, the lingers 2| securedto the head 46 act through the hair of the patient and directly onto thescalp in a massaging motion very similar to that normally practiced in amanual massage of the head, causing the scalp to be moved sufficientlyto loosen and stimulate the same without in any way pulling the hairs orcausing discomfort to the patient.

In order to more readily accommodate a plurality of fingers on thecircular head 46, these fingers are provided in a substantially conicalform as is apparent in Fig. '1. Each finger, and the lingers arepreferably provided in a rubber material as mentioned above, comprisesan annular rim 22 and an integral compressible cover at a tip portion23. Each finger is frictionally and removably secured to a knob 24'similar to the knob 24 of Fig. 4 having a head portion 28 2 and arestricted neck portion 29 for carrying a finger thereon in aclincher-like manner as previously described.

The stub shaft 5| for the disc 49 and a similar shaft 53 for the disc 48are each journalled I'.

in a frame plate 54 acting with a frame member 56 and frame plate 51 toprovide a closed hous-k ing for the link 41 and associated movablemechanism. The housing is long and relatively narrow, and of such a sizeas to be comfortably grasped in the hand of an operator to serve as theoperating handle for the complete massaging device. It is understoodthat a motor member, if desired, can be directly connected to the shaftas 5I to drive the massaging device in a manner similar to the drive forthe structure of Fig. 5.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments, itis understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby butchanges and modifications may be made therein all within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

l. A massage device for carrying in the hand for body massage and thelike including in combination a pair of spaced-apart rotatable shafts, aplurality of massage elements on each shaft positioned thereon in pairsand each element in a pair being substantially oppositely disposed withrespect to the other element, With each pair of massage elements axiallydisposed on said shaft with reference to the next adjacent pair and in adifferent phase relationship on said shaft relative to said adjacentpair, means on each of said shafts for individually supporting saidmassage elements thereon and positioned on each shaft to provide saidmassage element pairs in saidv different phase relation, frame meanssupporting said shafts radially displaced from one anotherk a distancesuch that the circumferential path followed by the outer tips of themassage elements on one shaft does not cut the circumferential pathfollowed by the outer tips of the massageoelements on the other shaft, amotor mounted on said frame means having a shaft arranged intermediatesaid two shafts, with the axes of said motor shaft and said two shaftsbeing in a-parallel relation, individual driving means for each of saidtwo shafts including an elongate-d driven member operatively connectedat one end to the corresponding shaft, and gear means on said motorshaft operatively connected to each of said driven members at the otherend thereof to simultaneously drive both said driven members to drivesaid two massage element shafts in opposite directions.

2. A power-actuated massaging device forearrying in the hand for bodymassage and the like, including in combination a pair of spaced apartrotatable shafts, frame means for supporting said shafts, each of saidshafts having a plurality of massaging elements securely but removablycarried thereon, means carrying said massage elements on said shaftsincluding a plurality of projections on said shafts extending radiallyfrom the shafts and arranged in pairs substantially over the axiallength of said shaft, with the projections in each pair beingsubstantially oppositely disposed on said shaft, said carrying means foreach of the massage elements including a threaded portion and each ofsaid shafts having a corresponding threaded opening for threadablyreceiving said threaded portion, withr each of said massage elementshaving a hollow interior fitting over a corresponding projection andheld releasably thereon.

3. A massaging device for carrying in the hand for body massage and thelike, including in cornbination a pair of spaced apart'l rotatableshafts, frame means for supporting said shafts, a plurality of massagingelements individually carried on said shafts, with each of said shaftshaving threaded apertures extending radially therethrough, saidapertures being axially spaced with adjacent ones thereof being in anangularly displaced relation, and a supporting member for each of saidmassaging elements, said supporting member having a head portion and athreaded shank portion, with said head portion being adapted to retain acorresponding massaging element thereon, and said shank portion beingthreadable in the end of an aperture,

4. A massaging device for carrying in the hand for body massage and thelike including in combination a pair of spaced apart rotatable shafts,each of said shafts having a plurality of hat sides oppositely arrangedin pairs, and axially spaced threaded apertures extending radiallytherethrough, with said apertures being relatively angularly spaced sothat adjacent ones thereof correspond to a different pair of shaftsides, frame means for supporting said shafts, each of said shaftshaving a plurality of substantially 'hollow massaging elements securelybut removably carried thereon, and a carrying unit for each of saidmassaging elements, said carrying unit having a head portion, a threadedshank portion, and an intermediate'engaging portion, with said threadedportion being threadable in the end of one of said apertures until saidengaging portion frictionally engages the shaft side corresponding tosaid aperture end, the threaded por-` tions at opposite ends of acorresponding aperture being spaced apart axially of said correspondingaperture, and each of said hollow massaging elements fitting over acorresponding head portion to be releasably held thereon.

WILLIAM G. BETZ.

